It's the end of summer and the start of autumn and the risk of picking up a cold increases as schools are back and people return from holidays. More time can also be spent indoors as the weather gets cooler and the nights darker.
And while Covid-19 infections are falling, health experts are predicting a resurgence of coronavirus this winter amid a possible worse flu season. To protect as many people as possible, the Covid-19 booster vaccine programme has got under way in England and Scotland.
But how easy it is to tell if you have a cold, the flu or Covid-19? They can have very similar symptoms, so it may be hard to tell what you have and know how best to treat it.
Below, is advice from the NHS, published on the Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group's website.
Common cold
Cold symptoms come on gradually and can include a blocked or runny nose, a sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, coughs, sneezing, a raised temperature, and pressure in your ears and face. If you have a cold, your symptoms should develop over one to two days and you should begin to gradually feel better after a few days, though some colds can last for up to two weeks.
To help relieve cold symptoms, get plenty of rest, keep warm and stay hydrated Painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease aches or lower a temperature, and decongestant sprays or tablets can help to relieve a blocked nose. These medicines are available to buy from supermarkets or pharmacies – a pharmacist will be able to advise you on the best medicine to treat your symptoms.
Flu
It may be difficult to tell the difference between a cold and flu as some symptoms are similar. However, flu tends to be more severe, and the symptoms come on very quickly. Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill.
The symptoms of flu include a sudden high temperature (of 38C or above), body aches, feeling tired or exhausted, a dry cough, a sore throat, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. You may also experience a loss of appetite, diarrhoea, tummy pain, or feeling sick and being sick.
To help your recovery, it’s important to get plenty of rest, keep warm, and stay hydrated. You can also take paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets to relieve aches and pains and lower your body temperature. A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.
Be careful not to use flu remedies if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets, as it’s easy to take more than the recommended dose. It’s important to get the flu vaccine if you’re advised to, as this will help to protect you from flu and its complications.
COVID-19
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are a new continuous cough, a fever or high temperature, and a loss of or change to smell or taste. A high temperature is 37.8C or above, which can occur if the body is fighting off an infection.
If you don’t have a thermometer, you may be able to check by sensing if you feel hot to the touch on the chest or back. Other COVID-19 symptoms, which are also common signs of other respiratory infections, include shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, lack of energy, muscle aches or pains, headache that lasts longer than usual, a blocked or runny nose, a sore throat, or a stuffy or runny nose.
You may also experience a loss of appetite, diarrhoea, or feeling sick or being sick. As with other mild respiratory illnesses, most people can treat COVID-19 at home.
You can take paracetamol to relieve headaches and muscle aches and pains – but be aware that antibiotics won’t work against viral infections such as COVID-19. You should get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated.
If you’re having trouble breathing, contact your GP, or use the NHS 111 coronavirus online service. If you’re very worried about sudden shortness of breath, call 999.
